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Sunni preacher handed death sentence in Iran

The Iran Supreme Court has approved the death sentence issued against the Sunni preacher Shahram Ahmadi, Arabi21 has learnt from informed sources.

Ahmadi, an Iranian Sunni preacher, was sentenced to death after he was arrested in 2009 by the Iranian intelligence forces.

In July, the Supreme Court denied his sentence, but he was re-tried in the same court by the same judge, and was sentenced to death again. His lawyer informed him of the court’s decision on 15 October and his case was referred to the court that will carry out the execution.

During his imprisonment, Ahmadi was subject to various forms of severe physical and psychological torture. He was initially sentenced to death in 2012 by the Iranian Revolutionary Court during a hearing where his lawyer was prohibited from attending.

Ahmadi suffers from chronic illnesses, and he lost one of his kidneys due to the suffering and torture exercised against him during his time in prison. Despite this, the judicial authorities did not allow him to receive treatment outside jail, even after a medical report was issued stating he needed to be admitted to a hospital immediately.

His younger brother, Bahram Ahmadi, was executed in Ghezel Hesar on 27 December 2012.

Sunni activists in Iran have said that the majority of the accusations made by the Iranian Revolutionary Court against Sunni politicians and preachers are that they are “spreading corruption and incitement on Earth”. These charges warrant death in Iran.

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